Trump Suggests Tariffs Could Be Placed on iPhones and Laptops Imported From China

[groadyho]

I just came off a ban for a trump remark and I'm happy as heck so many here despise trump as I do.
There is hope for America yet.
[doublepost=1543286073][/doublepost]

Corporations cannot give politically. They can only pay lobbyists to argue on their behalf.

I thought corps were considered citizens by scotus in a ruling

 

[jonnyb098]

Right....Because his lack of intelligence and forethought didn’t help him win the election. Because ya know, like chess, you need not know how to move the right pieces before your opponent does. He’s intelligent as heck, tho I agree his wisdom may be lacking. Please learn the difference.

https://www.differencebtw.com/difference-between-intelligence-and-wisdom/

While that’s a valid point it was golden boy Jarod who was the mastermind behind logistically getting trump where he needed to go to BS the right people. No one was more shocked than Donald and Melania the night of the election. Go back and watch. She literally looked terrified. Both sides of the aisle have weak spots as far as people who suck up every turd that comes out of a candidates mouth. All dems have to do is mention climate change and evil corporations ....and republicans just have to mention god and guns. It’s not that hard to figure out it’s a simple equation. He’s actually not that smart, intellectually. Many other presidents from either party can talk circles around him on substance. He’s just a smooth talking New York businessman, your classic used car salesman. The guy hates reading, repeats himself and talks at a third grade level. Even republicans I’ve talked to fully admit Barack Obama was one of the most articulate president this county ever had (no matter how much you love/hate him or his policies).

TL;DR
Trump isn’t smart, he’s a slimy business man (part of why he was elected). History will judge if the used car salesmen sold us a lemon.

 

[mozumder]

But how many are going to Harvard to be one of your elite scientists? Everyone else is priced out of housing and childcare and the global economy is not working out for them.

The only reason companies like Apple have moved manufacturing abroad is profit. And that profit is absolutely at the expense of the USA middle class.

If Apple wants to sell their products here then they must involve themselves in the economy and workplace of their consumers. If Apple will not do that and is only involved with the USA workforce as a pool of consumers then I would say 10% is not enough.

It's the middle-class's job to learn to compete against uneducated Chinese workers.

If America's middle class cannot even do simple task, then they will have to die off.

No one wants to babysit and subsidize the middle-class. Everyone needs to learn to sustain themselves.

 

[Greenmeenie]

The sad part most of Trump voters still support him despite all the contrary facts. They will shout fake news, etc.
Waste of time deliberating with these folks. They do not want to see the truth.

Hillary despite the lousy sound bite, she was so right about calling them deplorable. Hit the nail on the head.

I actually feel sorry for some of them. Like the old folks who stood up at tea party rallies and yelled that the Dems were going to take their Medicare & Social Security away! Duped into believing this lie when it was in fact the Republicans that wanted to do away with those programs. It made me sad to see how easily lied to people can be. I think Trump is the end result of that extreme gullibility. After Trump’s tax cut to the 1%...Mitch McConnell almost immediately announced that Medicaid, Medicare & Social Security were on the chopping block. Sigh.

 

[KPandian1]

Econ 101: a tariff on products from another country is not a penalty imposed on that country. It’s a penalty imposed on our own citizens who buy goods from that country.

Most mainstream economists, whether liberal or conservative, agree that tariffs do more harm than good to the country imposing the tariffs, which is supported by a lot of empirical evidence.

Example, India!

Which is the least of that nation's problems.

 

[AlexGraphicD]

alot of smart people here complain how trump tariff hurt American consumers. Politically, creating tariff is a huge risk with voters and can hurt the president. Why? consumers and big corporations do not like tariff/tax, looking at complains in this thread.

No president has ever done this for the last 20 years. all presidents talked about how China is cheating and stealing. but no president has done anything about it. In the meantime, U.S trade deficit with China is reaching over $500 billions a year. what does this mean? more job lost to China. go outside of urban America, plants and factories close and weed grow all over. you are selling your own children future so that you can buy and consumer with cheap products today.

Ask yourself this question, "why would any presidents would do this, imposing tariff on its own citizens?"

You hit the nail. Agreed 100%.
I could care less if the iPhone prices went up. I wouldn't upgrade as often as I'm doing now, so what?
And a lot of people would do the same so Apple would be forced to cut the prices eventually, otherwise nobody would buy their super expensive devices.
So in the end everybody wins.

 

[kreasonos]

Trump's steel tariffs is why GM just laid off everyone.

Congratulations Trump voters, you played yourself.

The US economy is a globalist one that seeks open borders and free trade. The quicker you understand that, the better off you will be in this country.

Apple is doing exactly that by designing products by brilliant engineers in Silicon Valley, while having them built by cheaper, lower educated people in China.

If a person in China can build something for cheaper than in America, LET THEM - that is economic efficiency. An efficient economy will always win over an corrupt, inefficient one. Americans should only do jobs that only Americans can do, like high-end services jobs. Our economy is based on massive higher-education - the best in the world. No other country has a university system like ours, and we should take advantage of that.

We don't want Americans to perform manual labor that oxen can do. We only want engineers and scientists and artist - people that can create value with their minds.

New York, Silicon Valley and Hollywood are good examples of the kind of economy the US should be going forward.

A good example of complete economic failure is Russia - their economy is entirely based on selling things they find on the ground. When was the last time anyone bought something designed/made in Russia?

No other country has an education system as EXPENSIVE as ours, and it’s drowning an entire generation of Americans. How’s that for efficiency?

 

[-BigMac-]

We don't want Americans to perform manual labor that oxen can do. We only want engineers and scientists and artist - people that can create value with their minds.

LOL wtf??

Manual labour is building the buildings for those engineers, building the roads you drive on, and the hospitals you use.

I can’t even begin to explain the amount of politically incorrect, condescending and incorrect claims you made in that sensetence.

 

[normanfox]

Econ 101: a tariff on products from another country is not a penalty imposed on that country. It’s a penalty imposed on our own citizens who buy goods from that country.

Most mainstream economists, whether liberal or conservative, agree that tariffs do more harm than good to the country imposing the tariffs, which is supported by a lot of empirical evidence.

Trump knows that backing down will make him look weak. So he doesn’t back down, and the country pays the price.

Trump is not one of them. His tariff threats are reckless and ill-advised. US consumers will pay more for imports and some US workers will lose their jobs. There are a lot of Republican politicians and Democratic politicians who would do a much better job with economic policy. I hope one of them becomes President soon.

if China plays by the rules like everyone else, then these expert advices and Econ 101, you mentioned, would work beautifully. but China is cheating and breaking rules that Econ 101 is based on (assumptions)

No president has ever done this tariff for the last 20 years. all presidents talked about how China is cheating and stealing. but no president has done anything about it. In the meantime, U.S trade deficit with China is reaching over $500 billions a year. what does this mean? more job lost to China. go outside of urban America, plants and factories close and weed grow all over. you are selling your own children future so that you can buy and consumer with cheap products today. long-term death is hidden with short term happiness.

Ask yourself this question, "why would any presidents have a gut to do this, imposing tariff/tax on its own citizens?"

is it short-term pain so that we can have long-term prosperity?

 

[stylinexpat]

Nasdaq gained quite a bit goday but Apple shares barely managed to make any gains. What they did gain was given up in after hours after Trump opened his mouth again. Surely someone is making money off of what he says.

 

[gugy]

That statement by her was unpresidential - she lost the mid-West just because of that one line. Enough to lose the Electoral College.

For sure but again my point was that she was right despite the fact it did not help her.

 

[stylinexpat]

if China plays by the rules like everyone else, then these expert advices and Econ 101, you mentioned, would work beautifully. but China is cheating.

No president has ever done this tariff for the last 20 years. all presidents talked about how China is cheating and stealing. but no president has done anything about it. In the meantime, U.S trade deficit with China is reaching over $500 billions a year. what does this mean? more job lost to China. go outside of urban America, plants and factories close and weed grow all over. you are selling your own children future so that you can buy and consumer with cheap products today. long-term death is hidden with short term happiness.

Ask yourself this question, "why would any presidents have a gut to do this, imposing tariff/tax on its own citizens?"

is it short-term pain so that we can have long-term prosperity?

This President knit picks about cheating and stealing allowing some to do so but not others.

 

[normanfox]

This President knit picks about cheating and stealing allowing some to do so but not others.

are we living in a perfect word, aren't we?

 

[nutritious]

Trump's steel tariffs is why GM just laid off everyone.

Congratulations Trump voters, you played yourself.

The US economy is a globalist one that seeks open borders and free trade. The quicker you understand that, the better off you will be in this country.

Apple is doing exactly that by designing products by brilliant engineers in Silicon Valley, while having them built by cheaper, lower educated people in China.

If a person in China can build something for cheaper than in America, LET THEM - that is economic efficiency. An efficient economy will always win over an corrupt, inefficient one. Americans should only do jobs that only Americans can do, like high-end services jobs. Our economy is based on massive higher-education - the best in the world. No other country has a university system like ours, and we should take advantage of that.

We don't want Americans to perform manual labor that oxen can do. We only want engineers and scientists and artist - people that can create value with their minds.

New York, Silicon Valley and Hollywood are good examples of the kind of economy the US should be going forward.

A good example of complete economic failure is Russia - their economy is entirely based on selling things they find on the ground. When was the last time anyone bought something designed/made in Russia?

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

Higher education isn't the answer for everything.

Yes, we have the best universities, but not everyone is cut out for university, and most people aren't talented at engineering enough to be an engineer at apple.

It's a shame that you dismiss the value of hand work/trade jobs and other careers. Those skills bring plenty of value, too.

 

[icanhazapple]

Trump's steel tariffs is why GM just laid off everyone.

Congratulations Trump voters, you played yourself.

The US economy is a globalist one that seeks open borders and free trade. The quicker you understand that, the better off you will be in this country.

Apple is doing exactly that by designing products by brilliant engineers in Silicon Valley, while having them built by cheaper, lower educated people in China.

If a person in China can build something for cheaper than in America, LET THEM - that is economic efficiency. An efficient economy will always win over an corrupt, inefficient one. Americans should only do jobs that only Americans can do, like high-end services jobs. Our economy is based on massive higher-education - the best in the world. No other country has a university system like ours, and we should take advantage of that.

We don't want Americans to perform manual labor that oxen can do. We only want engineers and scientists and artist - people that can create value with their minds.

New York, Silicon Valley and Hollywood are good examples of the kind of economy the US should be going forward.

A good example of complete economic failure is Russia - their economy is entirely based on selling things they find on the ground. When was the last time anyone bought something designed/made in Russia?

General Motors makes uncompetitive vehicles. FCA, my employer, is also located in metro-Detroit (they have three assembly plants in Metro Detroit running 24x7 - WTAP, JNAP, and SHAP) and has made money hand over first the last five years.

I would never want to live in any of the places you mentioned. I'm an electrical engineer and I make fantastic money in metro-Detroit, and live in 3700 square foot house in Birmingham that would likely cost $3-4 million on the coasts.

Russia also makes some really great weaponry and is an export driven country. Some of their recent CPU designs, while nowhere near Intel or AMD, are interesting. They were subverted by communism for over 70 years - it's going to take a generation or two to unwind the damage.

Before you run your mouth on things you know nothing about and talk in platitudes and generalities to persuade people that don't know better, keep in mind you may run into someone who actually knows what they're talking about.

 

[stylinexpat]

are we living in a perfect word, aren't we?

You are right and have a point. I just wanted to remind those that are critical of others that their hypocrisy and double standards does not go by unnoticed

 

[normanfox]

You are right and have a point. I just wanted to remind those that are critical of others that their hypocrisy and double standards does not go by unnoticed

there is no hypocrisy / double standards of what I said. There are many cheaters but China is the biggest. how do you deal with cheaters? continue to follow the rules while China continues breaking rules? and continue laying off and closing factories for years to come?

your children future will have no job or opportunities.

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

Wanting to enact policy that will hurt your neighbors because of their political views is beyond stupid. Good grief we have lost all sense of decency as a people.

There is a saying I hear a lot down here in the south. And I’m paraphrasing it. But it goes something like this. That they say: “I’d get rather screwed over by a Republican, than helped by a Democrat any day of the week.”

Now as an independent I find this perplexing . But this is how bad it has gotten in politics now. That someone can come up to a person and say I want to help you. And the other person say they hate that party so much. No thanks. They would rather vote against their own interest. I find that astounding. Yet it is very common these days.

 

[JDW]

Trump should make the tariff 100% on all Apple notebooks and also provide a complete tax exemption if the notebooks include MagSafe, a keyboard that does not use butterfly switches, an LED on the charging cable, an extension power cord in the box, at least one USB-A port, and a built-in SD card slot.

It takes a strong arm to force Apple to make a positive change!

 

[Nuvi]

Please no. Hollywood is exactly what we should not be going forward. The lack of ethics and morals in Hollywood should disturb everyone.

What are the ethics and morals you’re talking about? Hollywood is the leader in entertainment industry in the world. You don’t want that? No one is perfect but the fact remains, just about everyone in the free world have higher ethics and moral than Trump.

 

[stylinexpat]

there is no hypocrisy / double standards of what I said. There are many cheaters but China is the biggest. how do you deal with cheaters? continue to follow the rules while China continues breaking rules? and continue laying off and closing factories for years to come?

your children future will have no job or opportunities.

I did not mean of what you said but of what Trump says because he picks and chooses to his likings

As for how do we deal with cheaters, I reckon that some of our patent and trademark laws need some updates. I ran into an issue in China with a manufacturer over an item I designed an patented. I learned the hard way that once a patent is not renewed and paid for again it expires. If it expires you can no longer renew that patent nor can you or anyone else apply for that patent again. That item then becomes free for anyone to manufacture. Another thing is even if you design,patent and Trademark something your item is only patented and Tardemarked in the country you applied for. All other countries are off the list. Patents and Trademarks only apply to each country that the person or company applied for. If you want your patent and Trademark to be valid in every country then you need to apply for it in every country otherwise you can only enforce it in your own country. Each country’s has its own laws and jurisdictions.

 

[sentiblue]

The President can choose to exempt product manufactured in China... but carry US brands such as Apple, HP, Dell, etc...

 

[MacCurry]

And I have no problems putting blame on the Great Recession on both the Clinton administration, for Glass-Stegal, and the George W. Bush administration, for additional mass deregulation and tax cuts during war.

The deregulation started under the Clinton administration and the W. Bush administration continued the same policies because they appeared to be working at the time - that is keeping everyone happy. Don't forget the W. administration created Medicare Part D (as envisioned by Clinton in 2000) as a hand out to the drug industry as it prohibits the federal government to negotiate the price with drug companies by law. The tax cuts at the time and current tax cuts are really not the problem. The problem stems from the fact that Republicans, just like the Democrats, spend too much and don't even try to balance the budget. They don't even attempt to address the total debt. We've had nearly 10 years of zero or near zero interest rates on US Treasuries. Now that the economy is growing and employment increasing, US Treasuries are around 3% return. This has two effects. One is that the US government has to pay more interest to service the debt and another is that money from markets will move to the US Treasury as it's a safe investment. In the 17+ years since 9/11, the US has spent over $6 Trillion on wars. If the US continues these endless wars at the same rate, it will be bankrupt even if the rest of federal spending on everything else is zero.

 

[sentiblue]

Americans should only do jobs that only Americans can do, like high-end services jobs.

We don't want Americans to perform manual labor that oxen can do. We only want engineers and scientists and artist - people that can create value with their minds.

On whose behalf are you speaking when you say "we only want engineers and scientists and artist"? Any country would have all levels of person having different levels of education. If you think this country only needs highly educated jobs then who will man the gas stations? Who tends bars? Who waits tables? Where would you go get your gas, drinks, lunch, dinner?

These people exist regardless of what you say... if all low paying jobs move overseas, who gives them jobs? What are we going to do with them? They have to live one way or another. So if there's absolutely no way for them to find jobs, they will become criminals to make a living.

 

[normanfox]

I did not mean of what you said but of what Trump says because he picks and chooses to his likings

As for how do we deal with cheaters, I reckon that some of our patent and trademark laws need some updates. I ran into an issue in China with a manufacturer over an item I designed an patented.

patent? that is tiny for China. how about this: you own a big corporation with billions in sale, like GM. your company has a portfolio of thousand of patents and secret processes to make your product better than anyone else. now you want to sell your products in China.

Guess what? in order to sell your product in China, you have to make China (yes China government) as your company's "partner". From there, all your patent and secrets are "shared" with China.

eventually your company is not competing against another company. you are competing against corporations owned by China government.